Washington – Sen. Ken Salazar says he’s not willing to completely back away from the issue of extraditing an alleged cop-killer from Mexico, despite a request from Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey that politicians stay out of the case.

Salazar, D-Colo., responded to Morrissey’s request Friday with a letter saying that while meddling in individual cases could cause problems, federal lawmakers do have a role.

“International extraditions are matters of federal law, and therefore it is appropriate that the United States and Mexico review the extradition framework,” Salazar wrote. “As a United States senator, it is entirely within my jurisdiction to raise issues concerning international relations.”

He enclosed a letter he wrote to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, asking her to address the decision of Mexican courts to alter the terms of the Mexican-U.S. extradition treaty.

Several members of Colorado’s congressional delegation have jumped into the case of Raul Gomez-Garcia, captured in Mexico this month after being charged in the May 8 shooting death of Denver police Detective Donald Young.

Rep. Bob Beauprez, R-Colo., quickly apologized Wednesday for referring to “Mexican time” when complaining about how long the extradition process might take.

Also Friday, Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., wrote to Morrissey saying that she, too, is bothered by how politicized the case has become. “I was extremely disappointed by the grandstanding of other members of the Colorado congressional delegation,” she wrote.

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